The Philadelphia Flyers returned to action Sunday afternoon after three days off with a matinee against the league’s best, the Colorado Avalanche. Sam Ersson got the start in net. Noah Juulsen was inserted into the lineup with the injury to Cam York in the last game. Sean Couturier gave the Flyers the lead early in his 900th career game and 33rd birthday, but it didn’t hold for long. The Avalanche would storm back and hold a lead for the win. The orange and black fall to 15-9-3 on the season.
Couturier gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead just 2:09 into the first period. He deflected Noah Juulsen’s shot from the blue line past the glove of Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood. Juulsen and Owen Tippett tallied assists.
The Avalanche tied the game up at one at the 8:28 mark of the first courtesy of Brent Burns. His snapshot from the top of the right circle went under the blocker of Ersson. A nice pass by Martin Necas set him up. Necas and Jack Drury picked up assists.
Juulsen was called for tripping at the 17:25 mark of the first period, which gave the Avalanche the game’s first power play. They’d capitalize as Cale Makar’s shot went wide but bounced off the boards out in front of the net. Brock Nelson got to the puck and put a wrist shot just over the goal line. Nathan MacKinnon and Makar were given assists. This made the score 2-1 Avalanche.
Valeri Nichuskin gave the Avalanche a 3-1 lead just 1:47 into the second period. He received a pass from Victor Olofsson and put a snapshot over the blocker of Ersson. Assists went to Olofsson and Devon Toews.
The Flyers got within one at the 5:58 mark of the second thanks to Travis Konecny. Emil Andrae made a pass off the boards up the ice that sent Konecny on a breakaway. Konecny then put a wrist shot through the legs of Blackwood. 3-2 Avalanche. Andrae and Christian Dvorak tallied assists.
The Avalanche got their second power play at the 13:45 mark of the second period as Trevor Zegras got called for slashing. They only recorded one shot on net, and the Flyers did a nice job of clearing the puck down the ice when given the opportunity.
Necas was called for slashing at the 19:52 mark of the second, which gave the Flyers their first power play. They didn’t record a single shot on net, and the Avalanche didn’t give them anything to work with, shooting lane-wise.
Zegras was awarded a penalty shot at the 4:54 mark of the third period as MacKinnon was called for holding as Zegras was on a breakaway. Blackwood made a glove save on the attempt.
The Flyers pulled Ersson with 1:59 remaining in the third in favor of the extra attacker as they were down by one. However, it didn’t work as they couldn’t get any more pucks past Blackwood. The Avalanche held on for a three-two victory.
Flyers went zero for one on the power play and killed off one of the two Avalanche man-advantages.
Ersson saved 25 of 28 shots, giving him a .893 save percentage.
Goal Summary
1st Period:
Couturier (5) Assists: Juulsen (3), Tippett (10)
Burns (4) Assists: Necas (25), Drury (6)
Nelson (10) (Power Play) Assists: MacKinnon (25), Makar (26)
2nd Period:
Nichushkin (7) Assists: Olofsson (12), Toews (9)
Konecny (7) Assists: Andrae (6), Dvorak (11)
3rd Period:
No goals
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Flyers next game is Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Philadelphia against the San Jose Sharks.
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